A Letter To the Daughter I Haven't Got

 small, curiosity, tempting, beaten, stepping, tongue, echos, fear, knees, slipped, taps, saves

leap from what is small to protect your curiosity at all costs.

Though killing it is tempting

there may come a day when you are down, beaten low

and your demand to know could be the stepping stone.

don't ever watch your tongue, but be ever ready to own your words.
Sometimes the echoes of your speech will return to cheer you,

and sometimes a prodigal and grotesque word you've said,

will return to you, make you cower in fear and shame.

it will demand paternity with you on your knees,
toppling the pedestal you have placed yourself on.

but when your crown has slipped,

and mortal frailty taps at the window of your expectations, 
remember to be curious. 
Our burning curiosity saves us from the dust of yielding to bland conformity.